The Food Chain

Business, science and culture behind food production and supply AI summary

BBC World Service Visit website › Arts · EN · 565 episodes · latest 2026-11-05

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What it is about

The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate.

Publisher’s own description, taken unchanged from the podcast feed.
(C) BBC 2026

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Latest episodes

Why is food so expensive?

2026-11-05 · 26 min

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Joanne Kwan is looking for a bargain at her local night market. She's finding that since the pandemic, the cost of food has been increasingly taking up more of her budget. And in the English…
Why are people talking about food noise?

2026-10-29 · 26 min

The term 'food noise' has been used by some to describe thoughts about food that are unwelcome and intrusive. People who have used weight-loss medication have reported that the drugs can help to quieten these thoughts.…
The joy (and pain) of sharing food

2026-10-21 · 26 min

Do you love to share food with friends and family? Or resent handing over even one french fry from your plate? Sharing food has a long and proud tradition in some cultures and is relatively rare in others. Ruth…
How to eat well when travelling for work

2026-10-14 · 26 min

What does a life on tour do to a stand-up comedian's eating habits? And how do you stay healthy if half of your working life is spent travelling? Ruth Alexander finds out. If you travel regularly for work you'll know…
Why do I feel hungry?

2026-10-07 · 26 min

Are you hungry? How often do you stop to think about why that is and what sort of foods you are hungry for?In this programme Ruth Alexander explores the science of appetite – what causes us to feel hungry and full and…
How to eat for success on weight-loss drugs

2026-09-30 · 26 min

Weight-loss medication, or GLP-1s as they are also known, are designed to suppress your appetite - so how do you make every mouthful count? Ruth Alexander looks into what happens to the body on these drugs and what it…
Culture shock

2026-09-23 · 26 min

Imagine not recognising the food in the shops, markets and restaurants around you. Moving to a new country to live and work can come with some culture shocks and food can be a big part of that. Ruth Alexander speaks to…
Is a healthy diet more expensive?

2026-09-16 · 26 min

Is it more expensive to eat healthily? You might think the answer is simple: Yes of course, if you buy fruits, vegetables, beans and pulses and cook from scratch. But is it that easy? With the help of the UN's Food and…
What do chefs eat?

2026-09-09 · 26 min

Ever wondered what the chef is eating? Snacking on the finest produce or surviving on thin air and caffeine? In this episode Ruth Alexander speaks to three chefs about how they get through the day, and the importance of…
The regulars

2026-08-19 · 26 min

Do you have a local cafe, restaurant or bar that you go to all the time? Maybe the staff recognise you or know you by name, perhaps you even get special treatment. In this programme Rumella Dasgupta finds out why people…

Episode details from the publisher’s feed. Playback happens at the publisher.

Publisher details

Owner: BBC
Oldest episode in feed: 10/2014 · over 12 years
Typical length: 28 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone

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